Fun and Games

This week I’m flat out working on the November Great Legacy Militaria Auction to be held on the 19th of November at South Brisbane. (Keep an eye on this link for items to be auctioned) At 2.00 pm yesterday just before the Melbourne Cup, I was standing outside getting a break when I noticed a weirdo accros the street yelling at the cars as they went by. Loser, I thought….unwashed drug-hyped hippy bastard….maybe the local chapter of the Greens are having a Melbourne Cup party. I went back inside as my attention span is remarkedly short when these type come into view but I should have paid more attention.

AT 4.00 pm when I was saying goodbye one lady suggested I wait as there was some weirdo ranting and raving in the lane where I had parked my Discovery and maybe he had damaged my car. I didn’t even pause but ran down to my car ignoring the idiot as I looked for any damage. Sure enough the unwashed drug-hyped hippy bastard was there and he had kicked in/thrown something at the drivers door and was now lifting wheelie bins up on his shoulder and tossing them while yelling something that seemed to have the barely discernable words “f*****g Silvertails” in it’s construction.

If there ever was a guy who stood out it was this one. Tall, dressed in dirty black with his head shaven other than a one inch mohawke down the centre that ended as a pony tail at the back. Bits of metal hanging off his face with the demeanour of a junk yard dog and twice as ugly.

I opened the car, threw my lap top and camera inside and decided to reposition the vehicle to a safer location prior to my discussing the damage with him. I drove around the block, parked close but out of site, grabbed my digital camera and went back to the scene. I am, if nothing else, dogged and I was not going to let the bastard get away with it. It occurred to me that a good pic would help to later ID him in case he escaped. I had him framed in the lens and was just about to say “Smile sunshine” when the police turned up.

Situation diffused.

It took three of them to wrestle him to the ground and apply handcuffs. I noticed they prudently wore gloves and were very professional in the handling of the situation. The police vehicle had a lockup on the back that seemed to be made of fibreglass with a smooth finish inside. I thought it would be easier to hose out considering the type of clients who temporarily resided inside and with no sharp corners there would be less chance of client injury and the subsequent swarming of lawyers.

There was a lot of Melbourne Cup Parties in the neighbourhood and some civic minded party goer had called in the event pointing out that a four wheel drive had been damaged in the fracas. There were mobs of these people on either end of the short lane watching the unprogrammed floor show that unfortunately included my vehicle as one of the props.

I gave a statement to the police and indicated that I was going to pursue restitution. This next morning I was called to a local police station where they took photos of the damage and then I went and saw an old panel beater mate and had him assess the damage and supply a quote. $1670!

Man, am I ever going to seek restitution.

The vehicle’s insured but neither the insurance company nor I are guilty of any transgression, the unwashed drug-hyped hippy bastard is and as one police woman pointed out ” He was born in 1977 and it’s about time he learnt that as an adult he will be held responsible for his actions”

I’ve got a quid says he was on drugs, not just alcohol…Ice, one policeman suggested and I will hold him responsible. Years ago some thieves broke into my car and stole all my tools – maybe a twenty year collection of good Sydchrome and Stanley tools for all occassions. They went to court and were put on good behaviour bonds but I was left with the cost of replacing the tools.

Not this time mate.